When Daniela Gerson and Talia Inlander met at a Los Angeles picnic, neither expected to uncover a remarkable connection: their families came from the same Polish town and survived World War II through a little-known path eastward into the Soviet Union. That discovery became the foundation for The Wanderers: A Story of Exile, Survival, and Unexpected Love in the Shadow of World War II.

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore a lesser-known chapter of Holocaust history—the story of the hundreds of thousands of Polish Jews who survived not through concentration camps or hiding, but through deportation, forced labor, and refuge in the Soviet Union. Daniela and Talia share their families' journeys, the challenges of uncovering buried histories, and the surprising ways their personal and professional lives have been shaped by stories of migration, displacement, and resilience.

The conversation also examines how families remember trauma differently, what future generations should inherit from Holocaust memory, and why understanding complex histories may be more important than ever in a world still grappling with refugees, war, and identity.

Daniela Gerson:
https://danielagerson.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dhgerson/

Talia Inlander:

https://zolberginstitute.org/person/talia-inlander/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Technology is reshaping every aspect of modern life, from how we study and worship to how we connect with one another. But as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly powerful, important questions emerge: Can technology deepen Jewish life? What happens when machines begin to replace human connection? And how do we combat the growing spread of hate online?

In the first half of the episode, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel speak with Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone, Director of Social Media at Chabad.org and founder of Tech Tribe. Rabbi Lightstone shares how Jewish tradition embraces innovation while insisting that technology remain a tool in service of humanity. He discusses AI, digital community, the value of Shabbat as a break from constant connectivity, and why preserving authentic human relationships matters more than ever.

In the second half, Daniel Kelley, Senior Director of the ADL’s Center for Technology and Society, examines the darker side of the digital revolution. He explains how antisemitism spreads online, how AI can amplify harmful content, and what technology companies can do to create safer digital spaces. Together, the guests offer a thoughtful look at the opportunities and challenges of living Jewishly in a rapidly evolving technological world.

Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone:
https://www.mytechtribe.org/

https://x.com/mottel

Daniel Kelley:

https://www.adl.org/research-centers/center-technology-society

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For nearly a century, the Maccabi Games have brought Jewish athletes from around the world together to compete, connect, and celebrate their shared heritage. Often called the "Jewish Olympics," the Games are about far more than winning medals—they're about building community, strengthening Jewish identity, and creating lasting bonds with Israel.

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome Maccabi USA CEO Marshall Einhorn and Dr. Danny Cosgrove, a physician, longtime Maccabi athlete, coach, and Elliot's older brother. Together, they explore the history and mission of the Maccabi movement, the unique experience of competing in Israel, and the role sports can play in bridging cultural divides.

The conversation also touches on family rivalry, the evolution of Jewish athletics, the growing popularity of sports like pickleball, and the profound impact the Games have had on participants—many of whom discover a deeper connection to Judaism and Israel through the experience.

Whether you're an athlete, a sports fan, or simply interested in the many ways Jewish identity is expressed in the modern world, this episode offers an inspiring look at how competition can create community and strengthen peoplehood.

Maccabi USA:
https://maccabiusa.com/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

America's 250th birthday offers a chance to reflect on the ideals that shaped the nation—and the role Jews have played in its story from the very beginning.

In this special Independence Day episode, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel discuss the significance of America's founding for Jewish communities seeking freedom, equality, and opportunity. From Jonas Phillips and the Declaration of Independence to family immigration stories and the enduring promise of religious liberty, they explore why America's founding remains deeply meaningful for American Jews today.

Then, Dan Tadmor, President and CEO of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, joins the conversation to share the fascinating story behind the museum's new exhibition, The First Salute. He reveals how Jewish merchants on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius helped supply the American Revolution, the little-known Jewish contributions to the Patriot cause, and how the Weitzman Museum is reimagining the American Jewish narrative for a new generation.

As America celebrates 250 years, this conversation examines the intersection of faith, freedom, immigration, and identity—and asks what lessons the nation's founding still offers today.

The Weitzman Museum:
https://theweitzman.org/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do we owe ourselves when it comes to preventative healthcare? And how much do we really want to know about our future health risks?

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System and author of The Breast Advice: All You Need to Know About Breast Health, Screening, and Treatment.

The conversation begins with a candid discussion about why breast health is often treated as a women's issue when it impacts entire families and communities. Rabbi Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the anxieties surrounding screening, prevention, and genetic testing—and the Jewish value of choosing life through proactive care.

Dr. Port explains how advances in breast cancer treatment and diagnostics have dramatically improved outcomes, while also addressing common misconceptions about mammograms, genetic testing, and hereditary cancer risk. She shares why knowledge can be empowering, especially for Ashkenazi Jews, who have a significantly higher likelihood of carrying BRCA gene mutations.

Along the way, the discussion tackles difficult questions about fear, uncertainty, medical decision-making, and the balance between personal experience and professional expertise. Through stories from patients and lessons learned over decades of practice, Dr. Port offers practical wisdom for anyone navigating breast health concerns, supporting a loved one through treatment, or considering genetic testing.

This is an essential conversation about health, responsibility, and the life-saving power of information.

Dr. Elisa Port:
https://profiles.mountsinai.org/elisa-r-port

The Breast Advice:

https://www.amazon.com/Breast-Advice-Health-Screening-Treatment/dp/0063492547

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What can a bowl of chicken soup, a family challah recipe, or a plate of brisket tell us about who we are?

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the rich world of Jewish food with two extraordinary guests. First, Jewish Food Society founder Naama Shefi discusses The Great Nosh, a festival celebrating Jewish culture through food, storytelling, and community. Then acclaimed cookbook author and food journalist Joan Nathan reflects on a lifetime spent documenting the recipes, memories, and traditions that connect generations of Jews around the world.

Together, they explore how food preserves identity, carries family history, and brings people together in ways few other traditions can. Whether it's a grandmother's handwritten recipe, a Shabbat dinner table, or a bustling food festival, this conversation reminds us that some of life's deepest connections begin with sharing a meal.

Naama Shefi:
https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/

https://thegreatnosh.com/

Joan Nathan:

http://joannathan.com/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why is soccer the world's game—but still not America's?

As North America prepares to host the largest World Cup in history, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel tackle a question that goes far beyond sports. Joined by acclaimed writer Franklin Foer and scholar Andrei Markovits, they explore why soccer became a global language of identity, nationalism, and belonging while America developed its own sporting culture.

The conversation moves from packed stadiums in Europe and South America to suburban soccer fields across the United States, asking whether America's relationship with soccer is finally changing. Along the way, the guests examine globalization, immigration, fandom, and the ways sports become proxies for deeper cultural and political questions.

The discussion also turns to Jewish identity, from Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax to the challenges facing Jews in contemporary public life. What role do athletes play in shaping communal belonging? And what can the World Cup teach us about the tension between universal connection and particular identity?

Franklin Foer:
https://www.theatlantic.com/author/franklin-foer/

Andrei Markovits:

https://www.andreimarkovits.com/

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do some stories stay with us forever?

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with bestselling author and legendary New Yorker writer Susan Orlean to explore the art of storytelling and the human impulse to search for meaning in ordinary moments. From milkmen and librarians to taxidermists and grave diggers, Orlean has built a career uncovering the hidden worlds that exist all around us.

Drawing from her memoir Joyride, Orlean reflects on journalism, curiosity, memory, and the way stories shape identity. The conversation moves between literature and lived experience, examining why certain narratives resonate so deeply and what it means to truly notice the people and places we often overlook.

Along the way, the discussion turns personal: Orlean reflects on growing up Jewish in suburban Ohio, the influence of her parents, and the Jewish values that shaped her understanding of humanity, empathy, and storytelling itself. The result is a warm, thoughtful conversation about attention, connection, and the richness contained inside seemingly ordinary lives.

Susan Orlean:
https://www.susanorlean.com/author/

Joyride: A Memoir

https://www.amazon.com/Joyride-Memoir-Susan-Orlean/dp/1982135166

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue:
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

Jon Frankel:

https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.